Tuesday, October 25, 2011

So, is your Mom your Best Friend? Your Dad your Best Buddie? Well, perhaps YES, perhaps NO! Whatever - I am sure they will love to find these tiny little framed custom table names at their place at your Thanksgiving and Christmas table this year.

Hey - and don't forget Little Brother & Little Sister!

Because of the time of year, I'm thinking of the holiday period that is nearly upon us, but these little place names would be a great way to personalize your table decor for any coming event - perhaps your wedding or an anniversary party and don't forget they go very well with the table numbers that are also available in my Etsy shop in the Table Numbers and Names Section No need to go with the names I have illustrated - I'm quite happy to custom print your own name suggestions for your little Table Numbers!

Friday, October 7, 2011

My new range of TABLE NUMBERS are here at last! They are the cutest little frames that will really enhance your table decor. I have used a variety of our Narrow Gold and Silver style frames as well as the very popular Shabby Chic in White and Gold and Black and Gold styles. Well, pictures are better than words, so here are a few photos. Let's start with the NARROW SILVER BOULES:

You can buy these little silver framed table numbers in packs of FIVE (5), SIX (6), TEN (10), TWELVE (12). Find them in my Etsy Shop or on ArtFire
More Styles later!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

What struck me about this collection of sea green colors was how they have such a calming effect on the eye and how wonderful that we are given the hex numbers to use in our own work. I could see myself driving a little VW like that - it would certainly turn heads in my little town!

thanks to Pinterest yet again for such inspiration. If you would like to follow me there or join the growing community click here.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Most of the photo frames we sell come complete with a “standing back with strut” ( for standing horizontally and/or vertically) and a zip-lock sachet containing screw-eyes and cord if you prefer to wall hang the frame. We recommend making a small hole with a fine pointed bradawl * into the back of the wooden frame moulding to take the screw eye – you should then have no difficulty screwing the fixing into the frame. Place the two screw-eyes opposite each other, and about one-third (of the total height of the

frame) down from the top of the frame.
On small to medium sized frames one wall fixing is sufficient and the cord may be tied to come tight centre top and a couple of inches below the top edge of the frame.
However, on larger frames, it is worth considering using two wall fixings and tying the cord to form a “roof” shape ( see image B) . The frame will hang closer to the wall and not lean outwards from the top, and in addition, will remain more stable — there is always a tendency for single-point hung frames to “swing” off vertical from time to time which can be annoying. Here are a few images by way of illustration.

*And when the bradawl has mysteriously disappeared ( malappropriated by your eight yr old to help thread together his string of decaying newts ) then the fine point of the scissors or a skewer can suffice – but please be careful – don’t force it – only a small hole is necessary – just enough to locate the tip of the screw-eye – the thread should then wind into the wood easily enough.

Friday, June 24, 2011

When Sweden comes to mind, what do you think of? Yes, I know what you are going to say - ABBA or IKEA, but I would like to introduce you to FALU RÖDFÄRG, Sweden's beautiful natural red paint!

In the Swedish countryside, many of the wooden houses are painted in this glorious intense red that seems to 'glow' in the evening sunshine. The pigment to make the paint is found in the copper mine of Falun, Sweden, giving it a unique composition which includes iron ochre, silicon dioxide, copper and zinc which help to preserve and protect wood and gives the distinctive natural color of Falu Rödfärg paint.

I had a few outdoor projects here at our house in SW France that I thought were ideal for this paint. It is a natural water based paint and best on rough, unplanned timber, but it does work on smoother wood too. I decided to do two coats, the first being diluted about 10% and use a wide flat brush to apply the paint.

Painting the Court Yard Doors Red!

Glowing Swedish Red in SW France

Well, our new court yard is coming on a treat - the enclosed dry stone wall is finished and Martin even made some wooden doors to make a completely private little hot spot. So, after all his hard work (yes, he did build the wall himself - stone by agonizing stone!), it was time to think of a color to compliment the stone and plants that surround the doors and also protect the wood from the elements. I'd wanted to try the Falu Rödfärg Red paint for some time and I thought the doors would be a good place to start.

This is how it comes, or you can buy the pigment and mix your own.

First Coat - diluted 10%

Finished and I even painted the sun chair!

A little glimpse of Martin's Dry Stone Wall

I did the two coats over a couple of days, but with smaller projects you could easily finish in a day, as the paint is dry after one hour, so plenty of time to apply the second coat.

If you want more information on Falu Rödfärg Swedish Red Paint - here is the main website where you will find where to buy the paint in your country and lots of other interesting facts about this gorgeous glowing red paint!

Blog Archive

Hello From France!

Here I am in the depths of the countryside in South West France since 1992! I'm obsessed with renovating our Old Stone House, decorating, interior design,painting and making picture frames, so come and see what I do with myself and be inspired by where I live in this beautiful part of France and try and be creative with our home decor in an affordable and imaginative way.